Liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus



Nov. 2, 1948. w. A. sHlMP LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed sept. 24, 19215 /NVENTOE fla ' I/V/LL/AM ASH/MP Patented Nov. 2, 1948 OFFICE 1 LIQUI MEASURING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS William A. shimp, Minneapolis, Minn. Application September 24, 1945, Serial No. 618,261

rFhis invention relates to new and useful improvements in liquid measuring and dispensing apparatuses, and more particularly to such an apparatus which is particularly applicable for use to dispense measured quantities of liquid from bottles, as ior example cream.

Numerous attempts have heretofore been made to develop a dispenser of this general character which could be used in restaurants and other such places for conveniently dispensing measured quantities of cream without waste, and with the assurance that the dispensing apparatus is i such construction as to aifor'd the utmost in sanitation, an essential requisite in food dispensers of this general type. To the best ci my knowledge,

no one has heretofore developed a dispenser such` as the one herein disclosed, which is the result of long experimental and research work in an at-I tempt to provide a cream dispenser in which all of the objectionable features hereinbefo-re present in commercial devices oi this general type have been wholly eliminated, and the construction of which is such as to meet the requirements of health authorities and experts, as to sanitary qualities of the apparatus. e

An object of the present invention therefore is to provide a simple andinexpensive liquid measuring and dispensing `apparatus which com` prises a minimum oi moving parts, all of which are readily accessible, and are so arranged that they may readily be removed for cleaning purposes, and also whereby the bottle-supporting and measuring cups and the vpassage therebetween, may readily and quickly be thoroughly cleansed and sterilized in a minimum oi time, thereby assuring that the cream or other liquid dispensed from the measuring cup will not be contaminated in any way in its passage through the dispenser.

A further and more specic object of the inven-u tion is to provide a cream dispenser comprising a suitable support having a bottle-supporting cup mounted at its upperend and having an annular shoulder or seat therein. for supporting a filled bottle in inverted position on the dispenser, and a small chamber being provided in said cup below said seat having a liquid flow passage connecting it with the upper end oi a measuring cup disposed in ofiset relation to the bottle-supporting cup and at a relatively lower elevation, whereby the cream may flow by gravity from the bottleesupporting` cup to the measuring cup, and dual valves' being provided within the measuring cup, one of which normally closes a discharge provided in the bottom wall of the measuring cup, and the otherbeing adapted to close an intake provided between 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-453) the measuring cup and said passaga when the' lower valve is opened to permit the contents of the measuring cup to empty therefrom through the open discharge. y

Other objects of the invention reside in the unique construction of the bottle-supporting and, measuring cups which preferably are connected together as an integralunit to facilitate `manufacture and to provide such a structure comprising a minimum of joints; in the arrangement of the valve device provided within the measuring cup which comprises a stem having axially spaced valve elements fixed thereto for closing and `opening the intake and discharge openings` of the,` measuring Cup, said valve stemhaving its upper` end supported in a suitable guide and projecting from said guide, whereby a spring element may, be engaged therewith to constantly urge the valve stem in a downward direction to retain the lowerl valve in discharge-closing position; inthe means provided for manually manipulating thecvalve device to permit the measured quantity ,oi` liquid in the measuring cup to discharge therefrom, and whereby the measuring cup may` quickly refill, when the operator releases the valve device;` in the removablecap provided `at one end of the connecting passage between the bottle-supporting cup and the measuring cup to facilitate clean-v ing of said passage; and in the novel construction of the cap which is tted over the top oi the bottle before placing the bottle in inverted posi` tion on the dispenser, when the bottle` is in upright position subsequent to removing `the usual paper sealing cap from the bottle mouth, said cap member having a normally closed ;.valve therein for preventing discharge lof the liquid from the bottle in the operation of placing `the bottle in inverted position in the bottlefsupportfthe following description and the accompanyingdrawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims. ,i

In the accompanying drawings there has been discloseda structure designed to carry `out `the various objects `of theinvention,` but` it, isito be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View showing a bottle in position on the dispenser and the measuring cup villed;

Figure 2 is a'vievvpartially in section showing the Valve means manipulated to close the'intake and open the discharge, thereby to permit the contents of the measuring cup to empty therefrom; i

Figure'3 is a view showing a bottle in inverted position with the bottle supportingcap vsecured thereto and showing the disk valve vclosed to prevent leakage from the bottlezmouth when placing the bottle in position on the dispenser;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of Figure 3 without the bottle;

Figure' is a detail sectional viewsubstantially on the`linef5-5 of Figure 2fshowing the pivotal mounting of the operatinghandle; and

Figure 6 is a view showing a bottle in upright position with the bottle capitted thereover prior to placing'thebottle in inverted position upon the dispenser.

Thenovel liquid and measuring dispensing apparatus4 herein vdisclosedy is shown ,comprising an upright vsupporting standard 2, which may be tubular'in cross-section. The lower end of the standard may be secured to a base 'plate 3 of any suitable shape or construction, whereby the apparatus may be supporting on a table, counter or other flat surface, where desired.

A bottle-supportingcup, generally designated by'the numeral 4, is secured to the upperendof the istandardFZ'Iandiis' shown provided i with a horizontal annular shoulder or seat-5, spaced upwardly fromthe bottom `wall 6 yoi the cup,'as bestshown iniFigure 1. The upright'wall 'between the shoulder l5 andthe bottom wall '6 coopcrates With the' bottom wall v6to denne a chamber 8 which normally is in direct communication withfthe'interior of the bottle 9 supported on the dispenser, as will subsequently be described.

"Thessupporting cup `4-is shown provided withfa laterally extending neck vI I'f'provided at its i cuter end 'With'a casing `I2 formingameasuring cup IBwh-ich, asshown in Figure" 1, is disposed at an elevation beneath the 'chamber '8 of the bottle supportingfcup 4, whereby the liquid may flow from the bottle-supporting cup Ato'thezmeasuring cup I3 'by gravity, .-as'zwill be understood Aby reference to "Figure 1.

The liquid'flow passage I4`is provided in the neckIIl and has one end in direct communication withfthe'chamberr in the bottle-supporting cup 4'an`d extends'through the upperwall portion 'ci the 'casing I2 and terminates in anipple 'i 51pm vided `on thecasing I2. A knurled cap I6 is removablysecuredto'the nipple I5, whereby access may behad to thepassage Ill'to facilitate cleaning, as will be iun'derstood.

llli-suitable intake llisprovided in ithe upper wall ofthe casing I'2 of the measuring cup for establishing :communication :between the passage I-#fandmeasuringfcup I3. The bottom wall of the'measuring cup is'shown::formedbyl a detachableicap l I 8` havingl afzdischargefopening I t! therein which isshown ldisposed directly beneath the intake I'I.

'To controlv the vfiiow of cream .or rother liquid into and out ofthe'measuring'cup"lf3,'a suitable Vvalve unitAv is provided'therein comprising ia vr pair of spaced valve elements 2| and 22. The valve element 2| is preferaby in the form of a disk, the upper face of which is arranged to sealingly engage a seat 23 encircling the intake opening I1. The lower valve element 22 is preferably frusto-conical in formation and the discharge i9 provided in the bottom cap I8 of the measuring cup is correspondingly shaped, whereby when the Ivalve 22 is in its normal closing position shown in Figure 1, liquid cannot leak orescape through the discharge I9.

'The valve elements 2I and 22, as herein dis- ,closed, are integrally formed on a suitable valve stemV 2d, but it is to be understood that if desired they vmay be independently formed and there after secured to the valve stem in spaced iixed relation, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The upper end portion of the valve stem 2d is supported in a suitable'guide 25 provided in the upper wall of the measuring cup, and said guide is of suflicient length to provide an adequate support for the valve stem when axially actuated to close the intake and open the discharge, or vicev versa, in the operation of the dispenser.

To assure leak-tight engagement of the lower valve 22 with its seat, a suitable spring 26 is shown having one end secured to the upstanding portion 21 forming the guide 25 and having its opposite end engaging the upper extremity lof the valve stem, whereby a slight downward pres sure is constantly exerted on the valve stem to assure proper sealing engagement between the Valve element 22 and its seat I9. In some instances it may be found possible to eliminate the i spring 25 and depend upon gravity to move the valve 22 into closing engagement with its seat, but in actual practiceit has been found that the spring 25 is highly desirable in that it causes the valve stem to return more quickly to discharge-closing position, when the force exerted on the stem to move the intake valve 2I into engagement with its seat is released.

'In other words, the operation of the valve stemmust be such that when the Stem has been moved upwardly to close the intake I'I and permit the contents of the measuring' cup to drain from the open discharge at the bottom thereof, when theforce exerted on'the Valve stem to hold it in intake-closing position is released, the valve stem must movequickly to discharge-closing position before a portion of the liquid flowing into the upper end of the measuring cup reaches the bottom of the measuring cup. e

In'the operation of the cream dispenser herein disclosed it is, as will be understood by reierence to'Figures 1 and 2, necessary to elevate the valve stem 2li each time vthe measuring cup I3 is to be emptied of Yits contents. To provide means for thus conveniently manipulating the valve stem, a small `manually operable lever 28 is shown mounted for pivotal movement on a stud 29 secured in the outer end of a branch arm 3l provided on the supporting standard 2. The lever 28 is shown provided at one end with an upright wire-like element 32, preferably bent as shown in Figure 2, whereby the stem 32 may readilyenter the discharge opening Iii of the measuring cup I3, when the lever 38 is moved downwardly from the ldotted to the full line position` shown in Figure 2.' When the lever 2S is thusmoved downwar.dly,the diskvalve 2! will engage its seat 23 andthus prevent liquidfrorn entering the upper portion of the measuring cup from the passage I4.

to'Figure 2, that the discharge I9 is opened :to

permit the contents of the measuring cup to quickly drain therefrom into a suitable container 33, such as illustrated for example in Figure 1. The shape of the wire element 32 is such that the cream flowing from the discharge opening I9 into the container 33 cannot ilow downwardly on the lever 28 because of the bend 34 in the wire element 32 being disposed at an elevation below the connection between the wire element 22 and the adjacent end of the lever 28.

The lever 28 is also so arranged that, if desired, the attendant or operator need not manually grasp the lever 28` to manipulate the valves 2i and 22. If desired, he may grasp the body of the container 33 to be lled and place its rim in engagement with the lower portion of the wire element 34, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, whereby the Valve stem 24 may conveniently be thrust upwardly to open the discharge valve 22 and close the intake valve 2| against the tension of the spring 26. When the container 33 is disengaged from the lever 23, the valve stem 24 will instantly return to its normal discharge-closing positionzshown in Figure 1. l

`To facilitate placing the filled bottle 9 in inverted position in the bottle-supporting cup 4, there is provided a suitableclosure cap, generally designated by the numeral 35, adapted to be fitted over the bottle top, as illustrated in Figure 6, after the usual paper sealing cap, not shown, has been removed from the mouth of the bottle. A valve opening 36 is provided in the cap 35 which is `normally closed by a spring-actuated valve 3l. Resilient arms 38 and 39 each have one end suitably secured to the slightly outwardly turned marginal edge portion 4I of the cap 35 and their opposite ends are secured to a resilient split band 42 which embraces the body of the bottle with sufficient friction to retain the cap 35 in Contact with the upper edge of the bottle top, when the bottle is inverted from the position shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 3, prior to being placed in position in the bottle-supporting cup 4, as shown in. Figure 1. The armsv 38 and 33 are preferably disposed in diametrically opposed relation.

`l\lormally,the Valve 31 is retained in closed position by a suitable spring, as shown in Figure 3,`whereby the lled bottle may readily be in verted from the position shown in Figure 6 for positioning in the bottle-supporting cup 4, as shown in Figure 1. When. the bottle is positioned in the cup 4, the valve stem 43 of the valve 31 will engage the bottom wall 6 of the cup 4, whereupon the disk valve 3l is opened, as shown in Figure 1, to permit the cream or liquid in the bottle to flow into and fill the chamber 8 in the cup 4. Such ow of liquid from the bottle into the chamber 8 will also cause the measuring cup I3 to fill as a result of it normally being in direct communication with the chamber 8 through the passage I4 and open intake II.

A suitable vent 44 is provided in the top wall of the measuring cup I3 to prevent the formation of a vacuum in the measuring cup when draining the contents therefrom, and also to prevent a back-pressure developing therein when the discharge valve 22 is closed and the measuring cup is refilled. The top wall 45 of the cap 35 is shown provided with upwardly extending protuberances 46 which directly engage the seat 5 in the bottlesupporting cup 4, as shown in Figure 1, when the bottle is placed therein, thereby to permit air to escape from the chamber 8 to the atmosphere between the seat 5 and wall 45 of the cap 35, as

6 will be understood by reference to Figure 1. It will also be noted by reference to this figure that the outside diameter of the cap 35 is slightly less than the inside diameter of the bottle-supporting cup 4, thereby to provide a passage for the escape of air from the chamber 8 in. the operation of the device. The level of the liquid in the cup 4 does not rise above the top rim 4l of the bottle top, as is well known in dispensers of this general type. i

The novel liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus herein disclosed has been found very practical and convenient in. actual operation. Its simplicity of construction provides the utmost in sanitation .which is highly essential in devices of this kind.` In the operation of cleaning the apparatus, the `bottom cap I8 is removed from the measuring cup and the valve stern 24 may then -be freely withdrawn from the measuring cup and its guide 25, thereby exposing the entire interior lof the measuring cup so `that it may readily `be thoroughly cleansed and sterilized. The cap I5 is also'readily `removable from the nipple I5, as hereinbefore stated, to permit a` cleaning brush or element to be inserted through the passage I4, to thoroughly cleanseit. The bottle-supporting cup `4 is also readily accessible for cleaning when thebottle and its cap 35 are removed therefrom.

The construction of the apparatus issuch as to eliminate all sharp corners `wherever possible, whereby the operation of cleaning the `apparatus is greatly simplified, and with the assurance that the apparatus when subjected to normal cleaning operations will always be thoroughly sanitary.- whereby the liquid` dispensed therefrom cannot become contaminated by foreign matter which may accumulate in `cracks or crevices frequently found in dispensers of this general type. i

It will he apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of invention, and that the inventionlis capable 'of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus, an upright post having a suitable base, a bottle supporting cup fixed` to the upper end of the post adapted to receive the open top of a bottle whereby a portion of the contents of the bottle may enter the cup, a tubular neck laterally extending from said cup and in communication with the lower interior portion thereof, a measuring cup secured to and depending from the outer end of said tubular neck and `having an intake connecting it to the interior of said tubular neck, a removable cap secured tothe lower end of the measuring cup and having a tapered valve seat therein, a valve stern movably mounted within the measuring cup and havinga valve head at its lower end normally engaged with said valve seat, said valve stern having a second valve element secured thereto and normaly spaced from said intake, and means eXteriorly of the measuring cup for manually actuating the valve stem to momentarily open the discharge valve and close the intake and thereby permit the contents of the measuring cup to discharge thereu #from into .a suitable `repeivine means, said waive .stern .ireturni-ne fto fits .normal valve .sea-tine sposi non 'when released, -theneby to permit the meas, airing .cup .to. automatioallyfneeeive .another ycharge .froin the bottle.

2,. Ia liquid measuring ,and idispelisfhg appanatus, a pup-like member havingfa suitablesiipportnan annular shoulder y insaiol member providing 'awshpport for the top end of va bottle when the bottle is inverted thereon, and whereby a por 'Lion :Of :the contents `.of thebottle may drain vinto .ifhe lower; portion fof :said cup-shaped member, fa tubolar neck .extendingiaterally .from .said cui) shaped .member-.and hav-inea Aiiiuid passage there direct .communication .with the lower 'Portion of :the :Clip .shaped member, :a measuring `cup seturing cup to `provide aibottom therefor, said .cap

having a tapeieed yvalve opening therein lform-ing discharge rior the measuring cup, a Avalve Istern vertically movable .in the measuring :cup and having a. Valve head at its lowerend, means nor.,-

mal'lyexertngza ,ffonce onthe valvefsitem-,t-o retain sain naive ahead engagement `with sad valve seamafsecond Nalve elementsecured to the Valve stem and :normally disposed in proximity to 'said antalreJ Jailiereloy -Wzhen A`the valve stein is elevated -to open the edi-scheisse valve at the :bottom of the measuring nuo, saisi second 'valve element 'will closethentaketofshutpf Ythe 110W :of liquidnto k.the :measuring :cup `while :the contents thereof 4is draining iffroin fthe measuring our, and mea-ns exteriorly of the measuring cup for manually vacituatfine @the :valve l.ste-ni io 1perrni-t the measured nuanftity ofi d rinzthe measuring one fto drain therefrom.

2.3 `@ailioiniel:ineastaining doispensine .appaF einbe port, an annular shoulder in :said member pro-- riding asupportfior the topienxisof a :bottle when ane .bottle is ented thereon, Yanti lwhereby .a :loert-ieri for `the co nts of 4the bottle mayorain .into the .slower :portion of :said Crip .shaped meme suitable sup- Joer, a tubular .neck erteneliner laterally :from eno vslhapeoi :member and hai/inea huid, passage therein ,in direct communication .the `lower portion of the cup shaped member, a measuring.

cop secured -to the .outer end of said tubularneels and depend-ing therefrom, Aa valve opening astala-y lishing communication between. ehe upper fegngir of the measuring `cup and the passage in fsaid neck, the .passage in vsaid neck .extending across the top of the measuring` cup and normally closed at its outer end yto the yatmosrihere lby va Vremovable closure, a cap :removably secured to the .lower end of the measuring cup .to provide a ibottom therefor, Said cap having a tapered valve .openE ing .therein forming .a discharge for .the .meas1- uiting c up, a L'valve stem vertically movable in the Imeasuring cup and'hav-ing ,a valve hea at its lower rend, -a guide for the valve stein, mear-1s normally exerting a Aforce .on the valve stem retain the 4valve head in engagement Wihgsafid valve seat, a disk-like VValve secured to the -v v e stern and normally disposed fin proximity -intake of Ithe measuning cup whereby when Y,the valve stemgis elevated to open the ldischarge naine at the bottom of the imeasuri-ngougfsaid diske'like val-ve .wi11 close the intake to shutfoi -the flowp liquid into the 4 measuring cup While V'thefccmtents thereof is draining from the .measuring one. .means exterior-ly of the measuring :cup for maniually actuating the valve lstem ito permit the .measured ouantitv ,of aliquid in the :measuring 4cup to drainithereifroni, andthe axes of the valve .guide ,and ythe 'passage in said Ytubular neolseub.- sta-ntgial-ly intersecting one another to facilitate cleaning lwhen Vthe -valve `stem fis removed fv m the measuring cup and j,the .passage in said n ek is :made aecessiloie by vremoval .oi the elosure iat CES y:CITED The `following references are Aof record Vin fthe file of ythis patent:

UNITED .STATES .RATENTS Number Name Date v866,191 Carter Sept. A17, 11907 1,342,173 Joslin June '1, "1929 v`813,835 Bates July "7, 193,1 2,025,851 Davis Dec. 131, `193,5 

